What are your key deliverables?

• To produce an Annual Report focusing on key areas of research we have conducted

• To listen to community groups and understand the topic further

• To have at least 50 organisations signed up to the pledge by the end of 2021

• To continue to grow alliances with complimentary organisations who are also seeking to improve our profession

What does it mean to take a personal pledge?

Anybody can volunteer to take a personal pledge and follow the 3 simple tenets. If you do this, then all colleagues will expect you to behave in a manner which adheres to these principles. Whilst we may never 100% agree on what behaviour is right or wrong, we do urge everybody to consider the potential impact of their own actions and words on others. A seemingly humorous comment or action may cause offence to others with different beliefs; sharing a solitary opinion may actually contribute to mass targeting of an individual (aka online 'dog-piling') thus making you part of the problem. We live and work in a connected environment where anything can be misconstrued or disagreed with and we strongly recommend that we all consider the potential impact on victims.

Are you planning to liaise with any other organisations already doing work in this area like The FA?

In the first instance it is going to be important to listen carefully to what people are saying before we start seeking non-Cyber Security alliances. There are other bodies within our industry who may be in a better position to adapt their own codes of conduct and professional ethics so we are not attempting to replicate that – our current focus is to raise awareness and provide an environment where victims feel more comfortable to speak out and where perpetrators think twice about their actions.

Are you going to hold individuals accountable if they do not adhere to the personal pledge?

No. We have no right, or capacity to hold individuals accountable. It is a voluntary choice to adopt the personal pledge and therefore, in a professional capacity, it is the responsibility of the individual to act appropriately. If one chooses to adopt the principles of the pledge and fails to live up to them, then that is a matter of personal accountability and embarrassment. This is precisely why the pledge should be taken seriously and why ultimately, it should help make a change.

Are you going to hold organisations accountable if they do not adhere to the corporate pledge?

Yes. We will build a relationship with each organisation and provide support and guidance on how they should adhere to the pledge. Each organisation has a 3 month period to ensure they have updated and published any relevant policies.

Is this just about female harassment?

No. Our initial research clearly shows an almost equal split between Male and Female victims. We will continue research and seek guidance on other diverse characteristics to ensure we understand any wider issues.

What are your plans to include a wide range of thoughts and ideas into the work you are doing?

We will shortly announce our plans to create an Advisory Board who will be invaluable in providing us with important guidance and feedback from user communities. Industry representatives will be invited to join us on the Advisory Board so please lookout for more information on that soon.

Do you have a specific definition of ‘harassment’?

Harassment is a specific legal term which we are not looking to question or redefine. Our focus is on behaviours and the way in which people are made to feel as a result of somebody else's unacceptable actions.

How do I get involved?

Please email enquiries@respectinsecurity.org or complete our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

How will RiS deal with public accusations of harassment?

We aim to raise awareness of the issues within our industry, and to encourage organisations (by having them sign up to the pledge) to deal with any accusations with due consideration and diligence. We expect affiliated organisations to carry out an appropriate investigation in accordance with their existing disciplinary procedures. We are not in any legal position to make a judgement on whether or not an individual is guilty of harassment, and we are not able to, nor will we, take any action on behalf of any individuals who claim to have been harassed. We encourage any community member to report any harassment claims directly with the alleged perpetrator’s employer in a constructive manner.

What if an affiliate organisation has not dealt with my complaint appropriately?

We expect organisations to have a process of investigation that upholds the principles of the pledge, which should be followed diligently when a complaint is received. Whether or not an organisation has acted appropriately is dependent upon their own process, any evidence that is considered during an investigation, and any personally sensitive information related to the individual(s) involved. We are not in a legal position to get involved in assessing the adequacy of each individual case with an employer. However, as the team responsible for upholding the principles of the pledge and helping to making the community accountable, we are responsible for ensuring that affiliated organisations do follow a reasonable process in the event of a complaint. Should you have a complaint regarding an affiliated organisation then please write to us with details of your communications with them (please do not include any information of any individuals other than yourself) and we will speak with them to validate their continued standing as an affiliate. For the avoidance of doubt, we will not be able to discuss any sensitive details regarding an individual case and we will only be able to act upon any information related to the process itself. If an organization is found not to have met their obligations with regard to the RiS pledge, we will initially engage with them to fix any issues that may have caused this failure, with the eventual sanction being the removal of the affiliated status of the organisation in question.